Winter Tour, This year it was Malham’s turn to visit Appletreewick for the annual winter tour fixture. Unfortunately the home senior groundsman, Ted Mason had decided to muck spread the sacred turf on the Appletreewick Oval, before fleeing the Wharfe Valley, disguised as a Yeti, for the pistes of Les Trois Vallee.
The match had to be hurriedly relocated to the Appletreewick Lords ground, a majestic seven acre plot strategically located between the Craven Arms and the New Inn, noted for its undulating outfield, and at times ornamental lake.
The combatants having finally been prised by their captains from the warmth of the village’s famous pubs, battle commenced with Malham opening the batting, the wicket surprisingly taking bounce off the carefully prepared mud pitch, and a respectable score of 81 being achieved by the visitors. A disputed boundary line was quickly settled by the use of a sheep horn, where a flag marker was missing.
The mighty men of Malham had this year brought with them a secret weapon, Rocky a mountain of a man, reputed to have played for Lancashire, and to have actually touched the trouser turn ups of the legendary Freddie Flintoff.
